Waterloo Battlefield Trail

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Waterloo Battlefield Trail: the 1815 walk around Napoleon’s defeat

Published 17 July 2025 Updated 5 June 2026

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HikeList Score

Waterloo Battlefield Trail scored 64/100 on HikeList's trail-quality metrics.

Good

See score breakdownHide breakdown

Ideal length 55
Balanced challenge 60
Scenery & wildness 59
Varied terrain 83
Accommodation 57
Food & support 68
Path quality 80
Season flexibility 89

Computed from length, challenge, scenery & wildness, terrain variety, accommodation, food & support, path quality and season flexibility.

The Waterloo Battlefield Trail is VisitWallonia’s official 1815 walk: a roughly 14 km loop through the preserved battlefield south of Brussels in Walloon Brabant, Belgium. Starting and finishing at the Lion’s Mound car park in Braine-l’Alleud, it links farms, monuments and villages central to the Battle of Waterloo. The walking is technically easy across flat to gently rolling farmland, but the full loop is a sustained half-day rather than a short stroll. See more Belgium walking routes if you are planning a wider trip.

Route Overview

The loop starts and ends at the Lion’s Mound (Butte du Lion) car park, Route du Lion 1815, Braine-l’Alleud. The brief does not specify a mandated direction; follow the official 1815-walk map or a GPX, as continuous on-the-ground waymarking is limited. The route crosses the Waterloo battlefield via key sites including Hougoumont Farm, La Haye Sainte, La Belle Alliance, Plancenoit, Papelotte Farm, the Prussian Monument and several national memorials. It is a day walk, not a staged trek. For other history-focused Belgian walks, compare the Battle of the Bulge Trail, Flanders Fields Trail and the nearby urban option, the Brussels Green Walk.

Why Waterloo matters

The Battle of Waterloo was fought on 18 June 1815 just south of Brussels and became the final engagement of the Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon’s French army was defeated by a British-led Allied force under the Duke of Wellington and Prussian troops under Field Marshal Blucher. Fighting centred on farms including Hougoumont, La Haye Sainte and Papelotte, while the Prussian arrival at Plancenoit proved decisive. Napoleon abdicated days later, and “Waterloo” became a byword for total defeat.

Notable highlights

Lion’s Mound (Butte du Lion, 43 m cone): The artificial mound is topped by a cast-iron lion and gives a wide overview of the battlefield. The climb is separate from the walking route and uses a staircase of 226 steps.
Hougoumont Farm: This walled chateau-farm anchored Wellington’s right flank. The fighting here was central to the battle, with Wellington later stressing the importance of the gates being shut against the French.
La Haye Sainte: A fortified farmhouse on the Brussels–Charleroi road, defended through the day by the King’s German Legion before falling late in the afternoon.
La Belle Alliance: The inn used as a French rallying point and vantage area for Napoleon. Wellington and Blucher met in front of it after the battle.
Plancenoit and the Prussian Monument: The village marks the eastern flank where Blucher’s Prussians attacked the French rear. The monument commemorates their decisive role.
Memorial 1815 visitor centre: The underground museum at the foot of the Lion’s Mound covers the battle and gives access to the 19th-century Panorama painting.

Challenges to expect

The trail is easy underfoot but not trivial: 14 km makes it a half-day walk, especially if you stop at monuments or visit paid attractions. Navigation is the main practical issue because the route is followed mainly by map rather than dense waymarking. Expect exposed farmland with little shade in hot summer weather, and muddy dirt field paths after rain or in winter.

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Ranked #958 of 974

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